Anxieties on Going Back to Work

Hi there! I apologize for the lack of posts going on around here. I am just trying to spend every moment I can with my darling girl before I have to go back to work next week. I know I have turned into a "mommy blogger" all of a sudden, and honestly, I have no apologies. I have always used this blog to catalog things that I like (makeup, food, my cat, funny things, etc.) and I think my baby has trumped it all.

Come on. How can one NOT be obsessed with that?

But I digress. I have had quite a "blogger's block" lately, as all I want to talk about is her, naturally. I asked for some suggestions on twitter (although I probably whined more than anything) and Michelle suggested I post about my thoughts/anxieties on going back to work. This is an interesting thought, as I have a ton of feelings manifesting themselves about this now.

So yeah, I go back to work next Thursday. The good news is I go back to work for two days and then I have the entire week of Spring Break off. I kind of planned it that way so that if there were any problems those first two days, I have a week to fix it. I have to use the entire remainder of my leave to make sure Kennedy can take a bottle. Doesn't sound like that much work, but it is. I can't let my milk supply drop so if I replace a feeding with a bottle of expressed milk (I've got a nice little stockpile going in the freezer...ha), I've got to pump. And this girl wants the real thing. So this has been a busy week even though I'm sitting at home with her.

Anyway...

Kennedy will be staying with one of my best friends who is a stay at home mom. This is a win-win situation for everyone, since she will be with someone I trust immensely (I also watched her baby one summer for about a month) and my friend will get a little extra cash of her own that she can call her own. Kennedy will also be literally down the street from my school, so if there are any problems, I could get to her in two minutes flat. This childcare setup will only last through the summer, though, because I can't expect my friend to keep watching my child. I am not sure what we are going to do come August when the next school year rolls around, but we have time to figure it out.

Anyway, so how do I feel about going to work?

I don't want to go back. I just want to stay home with my precious girl and be her mother. I want that as my job. I think that if I leave her, I will miss her first laugh, her first word, her first step, etc. I want to be there for everything.

It's funny, because I never thought I would feel like that. Nowadays, it seems the norm is to have a baby, stay home on maternity leave for a little while, and then go back to work seamlessly without any problems. At least, that is what I thought.

I'm worried about her taking a bottle, and I hope to God she behaves herself while I'm away and she adjusts nicely to her new daytime routine. She is typically really happy in the morning/early afternoon so I seriously hope she keeps that disposition for my friend. One time I left her with my sister for about 3.5 hours to get my hair done and she had a freak out moment and wouldn't take a bottle. I have a feeling it's because she didn't want to be away from me because I'm all she's ever known.

I now find myself seriously reconsidering everything I thought I was supposed to do so I could be a mother to my child. Unfortunately, it is not possible for us financially for me to be a stay at home mom. My husband feels the same way that I do - he would have me stay home in a heartbeat if we could financially swing it.

So my mission now is to find something that I can do to contribute financially while also staying home with my baby and future children. Anyone have any ideas for me? I know, stupid question... because, like, everyone wants that. Okay, so anyone want to pay me big bucks for being so darn amazing?!

Don't get me wrong,  I LOVE my job. I consider myself very lucky to have such an amazing job and able to work with such talented students. Being a high school theatre teacher and director has been everything and more I have hoped it could be. It can be quite a demanding job, though, that can keep me away from home due to rehearsals and performances. I am really nervous about next year and how I plan on balancing all of that while still being a good mother to my baby.

So, tell me, working mothers. How do you do it all?

Baby O. in Photos (volume 4)

You know you want your Friday dose of Baby Kennedy! She is my world right now so she has taken this blog by storm! Hope you enjoy the photos as much as I do!

This picture just cracks me up

With her Auntie Caitlin

I find this picture just sooo cute! She's with her daddy, grandma and grandpa!

On Valentine's Day, wearing the awesome outfit Shelley sent her for the swap!

On the plane going to Nashville! She was an angel. Daddy calls that shirt the "baby slut shirt" because it is always showing her tummy. Hahahaha.

At the Gaylord Opryland with her Great-Grandpap (too bad we were there one week before Blissdom, otherwise I would legit be stalking some blog pals!)

With Daddy and Grandpa flying home

Being an angel again on the way home

She's saying "This girl, right here. SMILING!"

Don't worry, there's plenty of smiles to go around!

And for some reason, I am loving just getting these little "morning talks" on video every week to see how she is growing and developing. Here's one from this morning!

Happy Friday, everyone!

Beauty Blender Dupe: Sonia Kashuk Blending Sponge

I'm all about a good dupe for something more high-priced. Before we get to that, let's talk about the Beauty Blender for a second.

via

The Beauty Blender is a non-disposable sponge makeup applicator that claims for flawless liquid foundation application. It is meant to be used damp and said to provide an "airbrush finish."

Since I have so many makeup tools and there isn't really one way I apply liquid foundation (yeah, I guess I am that overachieving snobby makeup girl), I couldn't justify paying $30 for a darn sponge. I don't care if it's the most amazing sponge that graced this planet - like I said, I don't do the same routine every day so I'm not sure it's worth it.

Enter the Sonia Kashuk Blending Sponge.

via

I was browsing Target the other day (it seems like I'm there a lot now since it's a great place to walk around with the baby and get a Skinny Caramel Macchiato all at one time) and spotted this. I actually thought it was the Beauty Blender. Oh but it isn't - and it was only $10! I figured this might be a fun way to try this method of foundation application out. I had read a lot of reviews after picking it up that it is, indeed, a dupe for the Beauty Blender and there aren't much differences. The only thing I was warned about is that it might fall apart a little easier with repeated and continued use. I'm not really worried about that since I don't wear liquid foundation every day and I vary up the way I apply it, too (duo fibre brush, fingers, kabuki, etc.).

As you can tell, the sponge is pretty ergonomic and a good size for the hand. The point on the end is really good for getting into small areas and the other end is great for bigger areas of the skin. Let me bullet point my thoughts for you (since bullet pointed lists are da bomb).

Thoughts on the Product:
- My foundation did go on pretty flawlessly using this product.
- The sponge tends to soak up a bit of liquid foundation so it might be a little more difficult to get full coverage.
- I've found the best way to blend with this is to dot the foundation over the face and then blend.
- The sponge itself is a bit difficult to clean, requiring some effort to get all of the product out. I read about some soap that was good for this so maybe I'll try that or some baby shampoo. I'm not sure that the antibacterial hand soap was the best way to go about it.
- I have gotten similar results from using a dampened basic makeup sponge, but this does seem to blend it a lot better.

Here's a shot of my face after using it. I used Make Up For Ever HD, MAC Pro Longwear, and Revlon Colorstay mixed together (I'm weird and like to mix my foundations for giggles sometimes... does anyone else do that?). I haven't retouched this photo in any way.

Okay, maybe I should use this sponge more often.

Bottom Line: Worth it if you want to try a new way to apply your liquid foundation!

Have you found any good beauty dupes lately? Please do share!!

2 Months

This post was supposed to happen Friday, since my darling girl turned two months then! However, we were busy traveling to Nashville to visit family. Better late than never, right?

My baby is growing so fast, isn't she?

This Month:
- Kennedy is smiling so much. She is even trying to laugh, which kind of sounds like a cough.
- She enjoys "talking" more to people and enjoys social interaction. No way does Miss K want to be by herself, especially if there is a big group of people. She likes sitting at the dinner table with us and to be a part of the conversation.
- She is interested in bright colors and big shapes. This app, Baby Symbolizer, really holds her attention. I am getting her to look at these patterns and shapes and having her try and reach for them.
- She absolutely adores being in the Baby Bjorn (thanks, Katie, for the hand-me-down)! Again, not much on being by herself.
- Kennedy can lift herself off the ground in a little push up. She has a lot more neck control and is much stronger!
- Miss K had her first plane ride this past weekend. Let me tell you - she was an ANGEL! She smiled and cooed. When we took off and landed, I fed her so she wouldn't have any ear pressure. She was as happy as a clam! I was so scared of being "those people" on the plane but that definitely wasn't the case! Let's hope she does this great again in the summer when we have a few more plane trips to take...
- I don't know how I got so lucky with this baby but she is also sleeping through the night completely. If she doesn't sleep through the night, she'll wake once at around 5 a.m. and then go back to sleep until around 9:00! Her bedtime ranges between 10 and 10:45. Yesterday she was pooped from the trip and went to bed at 9:00 p.m.! I'm hoping to start getting her to bed earlier.
- I have to go back to work March 8 and I am choosing not to think about it. The upside is  I go back to work for two days, have an entire week off for Spring Break, and then it's 2 weeks left in March, all of April, and all of May until I'm off again for summer!

Let's take a look at how my girl has grown:

Have a great week, everyone!

Pinterest-Inspired Gallery Wall

I actually completed a DIY / home decor project I saw on Pinterest! I have a giant blank wall off the side of my living room and it needed some spicing up. I saw this pin on Pinterest and thought I could totally do that. In fact, I could totally rip that off.

Source: marthastewart.com viaMeg O. on Pinterest

I marked a line down the center of the wall with 2 inch blue painter's tape.

See? Told ya. Big giant blank wall.

 I bought frames ranging from 3x5 to 11x14 all at the dollar store or Walmart. The most I spent on a frame was $5, which was the 11x14 size. The majority of the frames were 95 cents to 1 dollar. I decided it would be easiest just to take the inserts of the frames and arrange them around the line. I knew it wouldn't account for the frame itself, but I was willing to be a little off around the edges. I spaced them to where I thought the edge of the frame would be. This way I could see if I had enough of each size. My husband said he liked the way it looked like this and I should keep it this way. Ha.

Next, I hung the frames with this special picture hanging tape stuff. Let me tell you - SO much easier than putting a million holes in this wall! And I tested these things - they really do come off the wall without taking the paint or drywall.

Finally, I took the blue tape off and it looked perfect!

All of the pictures I used are in black and white, which took me a while to do in Photoshop on my computer. The prints of all the photos were actually more expensive than the frames. Overall, I believe this project took about $70-80 to complete. Pretty awesome, if I don't say so myself! It wasn't too time consuming, although it definitely took a few hours to do over the course of a couple of days. I am thrilled with the way it looks and people who have come over have loved the way it looks, too!

And since this is pinterest-related, I'm linking this up with my blog pal turned IRL friend, Michelle, today!

Valentine's Day Swap Reveal!

Hey pals! It's time to reveal your swap goodies!







<a href=" http://www.oismeblog.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://sites.google.com/site/megandgregowen/home/files/valentineswapbutton.png" /></a>

Grab the button for your post!

My partner for the swap was Shelley from Life Hand in Hand. She is also a new momma with an adorable little girl, just like me! I had a great time shopping for her and spoiling her like crazy. Make sure you go visit her blog to see what I got her!

Anyway, she definitely spoiled me! Here's what she sent me.

She got me:
- Adorable cupcake/Valentine spatulas. She knows I love me some cupcakes and baking!! I actually needed some more of these and these are so perfect to match my pink KitchenAid hand mixer!
- Pink with red heart hand towels. So fun to give my kitchen a little V-day decor!
- Milk chocolate heart candy. Who doesn't love chocolate?? I kind of ate a few before I took the picture... whoops!
- A little 3-piece outfit for baby K! She looks sooooo cute in it!!

I forgot to get a picture of her in the outfit, but you can see part of it in this picture. We were having lunch with my besties!

What did you get? Link up your posts showing below!

Also make sure to visit my co-hosts Tara and Celia!

Morning Talk with Kennedy and Dexter

Here's a chance to see my two kiddos together and their shenanigans. Kennedy wasn't as talkative today as last week (she was trying to poop...lol), but it's still fun to watch!

Wow. I'm annoying. Sorry about that.

Happy Friday!

My New Mom Pleasant Surprises

One thing I've learned is there are a lot of things that people like to tell you on "what to expect" when you have a baby. Everyone has various opinions and experiences with pregnancy and motherhood, and that's what makes everyone unique! I am the type of person who welcomes any sort of advice (granted that it is deemed safe, of course). I enjoy hearing others' perspectives. It's just that when I am told I am doing something wrong (especially after the advice of a professional... aka a doctor) I get a little irked.

Some pieces of advice that stuck out to me were:

"Sleep when the baby sleeps." 

"Your life is going to change forever."

"Go out to dinner as much as you can now."

I gotta be honest. After hearing a lot of advice and personal experiences, part of me thought that being a new mom was going to have quite miserable moments. I was going to be under house arrest for months, sleep deprived, and my social life was going to be non-existent. Before my due date, I kind of got anxious at times, thinking, "Oh my gosh, am I going to ever go to the mall again?!"

Now, that was just plain stupid to think that, first of all, and second of all, I did go to the mall again, thankyouverymuch. Except this time, I got to go to the mall with the cutest baby I have ever seen in my life.

I have had a lot of pleasant surprises being a new mother. I don't want to jinx myself here, because I suppose this could all change at the drop of a hat. So for now, I'd like to relish in these pleasant surprises.

Those surprises just so happen to be:

- Baby K usually sleeps all the way until 5:00-5:30 a.m. There are some days I have to wake her up to feed because my boobs hurt so bad (TMI, I know, but it is a fact of motherhood). She is a ridiculously good sleeper. She can also put herself to sleep and doesn't have to rely on me rocking her or having to use a pacifier. This is a MAJOR MOM WIN right here!

- K is great in the car. She loves going places with me and will be such an awesome shopping companion. Getting groceries and running errands are actually pretty easy with her since she loves to be toted around. I don't feel like I'm under house arrest during my maternity leave because she is easy to run around with. Granted, I do have to time outings around feedings pretty meticulously. I have had an incident when I didn't and I was stuck in the grocery store parking lot in the backseat of my car having to nurse her before doing the grocery shopping. It was a pretty sight to see, let me tell you.

- She is typically great in restaurants, particularly loud ones with lots of lights and ceiling fans and "baby crack" for her to look at. Sometimes she'll complain a little bit (she takes after her mother in that regard), but is overall awesome. I am taking advantage of lunching and going out to eat with the hubs now because I know this will be a different story when she can walk.

- Miss K is generally just a happy baby. She is smiling more and more each day and "cooing" and trying to talk to me. She does have her fussy period in evenings when she is tired and hungry (more of her complaining every now and then), but who can blame her? Being so cute is hard work.

Again, I know this could all change within seconds and all of a sudden none of this would apply to my child, but I just wanted to brag, okay?! I have the most perfect child in the freaking universe (oh dear, I'm already becoming THAT MOM)! I wanted to give some hope to the rest of the world that being a new mom isn't exactly this prison sentence that some make it out to be! Even if it were, it would be the best prison sentence I've ever served. That piece of advice that I got... you know, the "your life is going to change forever" one? Totally true, and totally for the better.

Baby O. in Photos (volume 3)

You know you want your weekly dose of Miss Kennedy!!

My little cupcake!

Me and the babe

Checking her out in the rear view mirror while we drive around. I love that mirror in the back seat so I can see what she's up to. She loves her car rides!

Another kitty outfit from the set that Savanah got her. KITTY FEEEEET!

SMILES!!!

I am up to something mysterious.

Oh, just the girls

Another "dramatic" pic, only this time it looks like we're singing

This swaddle blanket is amazing. It's got little velcro thingies to get her swaddled real tight, even though she managed to poke some fingers out (this brand). It could be coincidence, but last night when I put her in this (after never having used it before... I have no idea why), she put herself to sleep at 10:45 and I had to wake her up to eat at 7:45 a.m. the next morning! I will say that she is a good sleeper, usually waking only once around 5 a.m. to eat, but this was miraculous!

Now, these last two items may make your ovaries explode. 
Don't say I didn't warn you.

Dexter is the baby protector. We have caught him in her bassinet sleeping at her feet!!

Gah! Melt my heart! Something about her changing table makes her a smiley, gooey, talkative little girl. I actually enjoy changing her diapers now!

Happy Friday!

Drugstore Beauty Must: L'Oreal Extra Intense Liquid Pencil Liner

Everyone loves a great drugstore beauty buy, right?

I have sang praises for gel eyeliner for months now, and it is still my favorite type of eyeliner. If you remember, I even did a video tutorial on the different ways I apply gel eyeliner. I feel it provides the most versatility - you can create as thin or as thick of a line as you please.

However! I read some really good reviews on this particular eyeliner and I decided I wanted to give it a go. I figured it might come in handy for those days where I want to switch things up and not use my gel eyeliner.

Which eyeliner, you ask?

L'Oreal Extra Intense Liquid Pencil Liner

Buy HERE

It's available pretty widespread at most drugstores. It's under $10. It is a pencil that requires sharpening with a little smudger on the other end.

Using the Product:
- This liner glides on very soft and creamy
- It is very pigmented. I have it in the carbon black shade and it is very, very black
- This stuff smudges amazingly. I don't particularly care for the smudger on the other end. I use my pencil brush to smudge it out.
- This stuff really stays put all day. The staying power is just as good as my beloved gel eyeliner.

Thoughts After Using the Product:
- I do not care for the fact that it is a pencil, simply because it requires you to sharpen it all the time if you want a very fine point.
- I do not sharpen it all the time, so this ends up working the best if I want to apply it quickly and then immediately smudge it.
- It is my favorite eyeliner if I want to smudge.

The Liner on Me:

I applied the liner, smudged it, and then softly applied a little more on my lash line.

Bottom Line:
Definitely worth picking up. I actually have used this quite a bit as my method of application is very quick. Very beneficial for me because I don't really have all the time in the world to put on makeup nowadays (thanks, Baby O).